EDITORIALThe big fight over RTE
It is the first meaningful attempt by the Government of India to make good on a promise it made at the time of Independence itself, and yet, the RTE law has ended up in the courts. What happened and why?
The India Together editorial.

The Centre, mulling over the Delhi High Court verdict on Section 377 of the IPC, should recognise a basic principle of democratic freedoms - we are
free when others are free.
The India Together editorial.

Should we believe the promises politicians make to us this time around? Whatever it is you want
the government to do about terrorism, begin by asking
who will do it, and how. The
India Together
editorial on the Mumbai terror attacks.

While endless rounds of complaint and criticism have been seen in every arena, this has not led the public to demand that the size of government be reduced. How long will this last? The
India Together
editorial.

Regulation that is working well, as well as others that plainly speak of misgovernance, are both instructive; the road forward lies in
separating regulation from the government, and vesting this instead in independent and autonomous bodies created by Parliament.
The India Together editorial.

Most public matters before judges are simply 'in court', and not necessarily sub judice to the extent that
voicing one's views about them publicly
would merit contempt charges. The courts should recognise the distinction formally, with a clear standard
for separating the two.
The India Together editorial.

As the demands for justice draw embarrassingly close to the PM, the decision to raise the height of the
Sardar Sarovar dam is being reviewed. But promises are nothing new, and
officials have always known
that they can be broken with impunity. Should we expect anything different this time?
The India Together editorial.

Minimum wage regulations continue to defy the very meaning of what the
wage is for. The original premise - wages for people to live with minimum
level of economic security, as well as dignity - is gone, its spirit lost
in myriad variables that rise from states, sectors, bureaucracies and
notifications. The
India Together
editorial.

Our governments face mistrust, cynicism, and opposition from citizens, and
even good plans are often defeated by this. Therefore, our development plans should focus first not on building
physical infrastructure, but on erecting the infrastructure to restore citizens' trust in government.
The India Together editorial.

Should Bangalore and its surrounding municipalities be merged into a single jurisdiction, as the state's politicians
are now proposing to do? The Constitutional standard as well as Bangalore's abysmal record of administering even the
core metropolis both argue against centralisation.
The India Together editorial.

Can we be a 'rich' people without doing any of the things that 'rich' countries now do, without the foundations on which
they built their progress? That's an important question - because if the answer is no, then our current path to prosperity
is in vain, and won't forestall another few decades of poverty and all-round deprivation.
The India Together editorial.

Global oil prices have risen dramatically, and nationalised oil companies have
been crying themselves hoarse over the government's reluctance to correspondingly
increase retail prices. The sensible long term alternative is to move beyond fossil
fuels, with clear policy initiatives.
The India Together editorial.

For hundreds of millions of citizens, the pursuit of dignity and happiness remains an unfinished journey.
Political parties are still busy interpreting freedom for the people, rather than simply giving it to them.
As a result, the appearance of independence is strong, whereas in practice there is much more to be
done.
The India Together editorial.